SWOSU Opens 2007 Season

February 6, 2007

Weatherford, OK - The Southwestern Oklahoma State University softball team, under the leadership of coach Tami Loy, will open the 2007 season at home Friday when the Bulldogs host visiting Washburn University in a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.

The Bulldogs, who went 13-34 a year ago, were playing some of their best ball when 2006 ended. SWOSU won three of its last four games, including one against nationally-ranked Midwestern State. SWOSU enters 2007 missing four starters from last year but return five position starters and the team’s top two pitchers.

“We’ve had a really good fall season and had some spirited competition for starting positions,” Loy said. “I think we’ve bettered ourselves at some key positions. We have players that should be ready to step up and have an outstanding year for us.”

One of the most promising aspects for the Bulldogs is the return of hard-throwing pitcher Alex Zukerman who in her first year led the team in every major statistical category. The Lawton sophomore worked 165 innings, more than half of the team’s total, striking out 109 batters and allowing opponents to hit only .258.

At the plate, SWOSU will be led by senior first baseman April Nash, an honorable mention all-conference selection in 2006. Nash hit .293 and was voted the team’s most valuable player. Sophomore shortstop Keri Glidewell has made a full recovery from an injury that kept her out of 12 games. She still managed to finish her first year with the Bulldogs with a .280 batting average.

SWOSU will again face formidable competition in their efforts to qualify for the Lone Star Conference Tournament. The Bulldogs are in a loaded North Division that features three teams that have each been recent qualifiers for the NCAA Division II Tournament: Midwestern State, Central Oklahoma and Southeastern Oklahoma. SWOSU was picked fifth in the seven team LSC North Division by a vote of coaches and media professionals.

The LSC Postseason tournament has been expanded to eight teams with the top four teams from each division qualifying. The tournament will be May 3-5 in Texas.